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By ANTONYA ENGLISH
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 13, 2001
GAINESVILLE -- Over the past year, any time he heard the words "Did he ... ?" Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer didn't need to hear the rest of the question.
"He didn't catch it," Fulmer said when the question came up at the SEC Media Days. "He didn't catch it."
"He" is Florida wide receiver Jabar Gaffney, the subject of the controversial winning touchdown catch against Tennessee last season at Neyland Stadium in front of a record-setting crowd.
The pass, from quarterback Jesse Palmer, hit Gaffney in the hands in the corner of the end zone, then bounced out. The officials signaled touchdown and Florida won, but whether Gaffney caught it depends on whom you ask.
Tennessee fans and coaches say no. Florida supporters say, sure he did.
Even one week leading up to the Vols-Gators matchup of 2001, "the catch" still is a topic of conversation.
Florida coach Steve Spurrier was diplomatic in his assessment this week.
"Jesse gunned that one in to Jabar that he had for a moment and it came out and the ref said he had it long enough," Spurrier said. "So anyway, we basically won a game where the other team outplayed us but that happens sometimes and we were very fortunate."
During the preseason, Gaffney was adamant he made the catch. On Tuesday, even he wavered a little.
"I just remember running the route and seeing Jesse throw it and it came into my hands and I had it," he said. "The cornerback knocked it out, and I remember thinking that it was a fumble. I was trying to get back on it, and I looked back over at the referee and he put his hands up for a touchdown and I started getting excited."
As recently as July, Fulmer blamed that play for ultimately changing the seasons of both schools, Tennessee for the worse. Florida won the SEC East and the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
But in reality, as several players pointed out this week, it was second down, which means Florida had at least two more chances to tie or win.
Which might be why Fulmer is taking a different approach to the issue this week.
"That's a play that's long gone so we're not going to worry too much about last year," Fulmer said.
A MOMENT TO SHINE: When fullback Rob Roberts caught his first career touchdown Saturday, it was the first touchdown for a Florida fullback in four seasons and a dream come true for the Dade City native.
"It was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, coach called the play, I was just lucky to get in there and Brock (Berlin) made a good throw," Roberts said. "I'm just surprised it was me who actually scored. I'm just beside myself."
Spurrier was more impressed with another play Roberts made.
"I'll tell you the best play he made was when Robert Gillespie fumbled," Spurrier said. "Robert ran up in there and the ball came spitting out sort of like a watermelon seed and Rob Roberts dug it out. (Roberts) is a good player, a lot of effort and he really cares, he cares about the University of Florida football so he's a good one."
-- Antonya English covers Florida athletics. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or english@sptimes.com.